In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. With the sheep on his right side, the Son of Man tells them "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." Likewise with the goats on his left, he tells them "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me."

Jesus is not suggesting we are saved by our good works. Indeed, the rest of scripture affirms that we are saved on the basis of faith alone in Christ alone. But those who are truly saved will be known by the good works that springs forth from the salvation they have found. Good works are the evidence of those who are truly saved.

How does Allah separate the sheep from the goats in Islam?

Sura 3:142 – "Did ye think that ye would enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard (In His Cause) and remained steadfast?"

Sura 9:16 – "Do you think that you shall be left alone while Allah has not yet tested those among you who have striven hard and fought…" Ibn Kathir, the 14th century scholar who wrote an extensive commentary on the Qur'an, says "The purpose of Allah revealing this aya was to distinguish between those who obey him and those who disobey him."

Sura 47:4 - "So, when you meet (in fight—Jihad in Allah’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them… if it had been Allah’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others."

Sura 3:140 - "If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allâh may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you."

Sura 57:25 - "Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allâh may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen."

Clearly, from these verses we can see that only those who fight in jihad (holy war) against unbelievers are considered the true followers of Allah. The god of Islam separates his sheep from goats based on who fights. Jesus separates the sheep from the goats based on love, care, compassion for the needy and less fortunate - a love that springs forth from the love Jesus poured out for us when He took the penalty for our sin.